Sifter can



July 15, 1930., J. M. HOTHERSALL .SIF'TER 01m Filed May 16, 1927 4 Patented July 15,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CA N COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N- Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY srrrna on Application filed May 16,

improved self-closing slide movable inside ofthe can to cover and uncover sifter openings in the body wall.

ing of the contents.

Packers of certain powders, such as zinc stearate, are being required to use containers in which accidental opening and siftin of the contents by infants is prevented.v his invention meets this requirement by providing a sifter can in which side wall openings are automatically closed when the can is not in use. D

An important object of the invention is in the provision of an improved self-closing Sifter can for preventing accidental dispens- A further important object of the invention is in the provision-of an improved springpressed closure slide operable from the outside of the can.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a sifter can with a deflector on the inside of the can for directing the contents thereof through the openings.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accomanying drawing, discloses a preferred emgodiment thereof.

, -In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a sitter can embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating this invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the defiector; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a can body 10 has a bottom 11 seamed thereto and is formed adjacent the top with a bead 12 for limiting the attachment of a cover 13 thereto. I

In the can body, preferably near the upper end thereof, are a number of openings 14 through which the contents are sifted. In order to cover and uncover the openings, a slide 15 of thin metal conforming to the shape i927. Serial No. 191,705.

of the can body is disposed against the inside wall and is movable to cover and uncover the sifting openings 14.. To uncover the openings, the slide 15 is formed with an opening 16, the material of which is pressed away from the opening and rounded outwardly to form a deflector 17 so that when the slide 15 is moved to uncover the openings 14, the deflector 17 will assist in directing the contents of the can through the openings.

In order to operate the slide 15 and hold it in proper position, the can body 10 is formed with a slot 18 through which extends the stem of a headed projection 19 engaging the slide and for moving the slide longitudinally in the can body as permitted by the slot 18. The headed projection 19 acts as an operating member engaged by the fingers and when the slide is moved by it to one end of the slot, the sifting openings are uncovered, and in its limiting position at the other end of the slot.

the openings are covered by the slide.

In order to maintain the slide normally in closed position, a leaf. spring 20 is disposed within the can having one end in engagement with the bottom and the other end engaged by the inner projecting ortion of the headed operating member 19 0 which the inner end 21 is preferably riveted in engagement with the slide and the. end of spring 20 to hold them tightly in position, while permitting movement of the headed member 19 in the slot 18. This leaf spring 20 tends to maintain the slide 15 in a position to cover the openings 14, and to move the slide to sifting position the spring 20 is pressed or bowed inwardly by engaging the headed member 19 by the finger and moving it to the opposite end of the slot 18, the spring returning the slide to its closing position as soon as the operating member 19 is released.

With this construction, it is obvious that it is necessary to hold the slide 15 in position to uncover the sifting openings 14 whenever the contents are to be sifted therefrom, and as soon as the slide is released it isautomatically moved to close the sifting openings so that the contents will not be accidentally discharged from the sifting openings. It

should be understood that the lid 13 fits tight- 1y upon the can body.

The principal factor which affects the cost of a container of this type, is the cost of assembling the parts after they have been made. In the invention disclosed, this assembling action is made by bringing three parts together and performing one single riveting operation, whereby the slide 15, the spring 20 and the operating member 19 are secured together, the rivet element of the latter passing through the can body, the slide and the spring.

When the can body is curved the slide is made arcuate as shown and the contour of the body guides it in its reciprocation.

It is thought that this invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A sifter can having dispensing openings in the wall thereof near the top of the can, a slide with a deflecting portion movable to cover and uncover the openings, the deflector portion directing material to the openings when they are uncovered, the can body be ing formed with a slot at a distance from the openings, a headed operating member ex-' tending from the outside of the can through the slot for engaging the slide and holding it tightly against the inner wall of the can body, and a leaf spring secured at one end to the slide by the operating member, the other end of the spring engaging the bottom of the can and tending to press the slide to a position to close the openings.

2. A curved can body having perforations therethrough, and an arcuate slide fitting the curve of the can body and slidable inside of the body in the direction of the axis of the body and crosswise of the lines of curve of the body to close and uncover the perforations.

3. A sifter can having a curved body and openings therethrough, a spring-pressed arcuate side inside of the can and fitting the curve of the can body and normally pressed to cover the openings and extending and movable towards and from the ends of the can, and means extending from the slide to the outside of the can for moving the slide against the tension of the spring to uncover the openings.

4. A sifter can having dispensing openings, and a deflector within the can adjacent the openings and extending cross-wise of the can body for deflecting the contents of the can to the openings when the can is shaken, and a slide carrying said deflector.

5. A sifter can having dispensing openings in the wall thereof, and a slide movable to cover and uncover the openings, having a deflector extending cross-wise of the can to direct material in the can to the openings when the slide is moved to the uncovering position and the can is shaken.

6. In a sifter can, a body having a curved side Wall and dispensing openings and a slot extending therethrough, a slide having the form of a. segment of a cylinder and acting to cover and uncover the openings and ex tending longitudinally of the can and conforming with the curvature of the wall thereof, and an operating member connected to the slide and extending through the slot and confining the segmental slide against the interior of the can body, said member having a projection on the outside of the can to operate the slide.

7. In a sifter can having dispensing openings, a slide inside of the can to cover and uncover the openings, means to operate the slide from the outside of the can, and a flat spring engaging at one end the can body and engaging at itsother end the said slide and caused to bow inward by said operating means to permit the slide to uncover the openings, the spring tending by its endwise movement to move the slide to close the openings.

8. A can having an arcuate wall and sifter openin s, and a slide of the form of a segment 0 a cylinder inside of the can for closing and exposing the openings, said slide moving longitudinally along the can wall and fitting and guided by said arcuate wall, and means extending from the slide to the outside of the can for moving the slide.

9. A can having sifter openings and a slide inside of the can for closing and exposing the openings, said slide moving vertically along the can wall, and means extending from the slide to the outside of the can for moving the slide, and a spring connected with the said slide and extending to the bot tom of the can, whereby the slide is automatically returned when the outside slide moving means is interrupted.

10. A can body of curved form having perforations therethrough, and an arcuate slide in the form of a segment of a cylinder movable-,longitudinally of the axis and inside of-tlie body to close and uncover the perforations, and guiding means extending to the outside of the body and confining the slide against the interior of the can.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

